MILITARY INFORMATION FROM MAGDEBURG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000700660004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 15, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 2, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY ,.- R < V? ?
TOPIC___,_ Military In_'Jrmatinn frrim Man~rlnIn,r,
EVALUATION-
DATE OF CON T EN
DATE OBTAINE
RE.FERENCES_
PAGES: - FNCLOS
REMAR `-
L IP ACE OBTAINED)
URES (No. & TY-
2 Mrart' h 1953
1. On 10 January 1953, the Herrenkrug and the Anger Kaserne quartered
600 to 700 troops who wore red-bordered black epaulets with artillery
insignia, including some with tank insignia. From 1 to 10 January,
troops were daily engaged in basic infantry training with small
aims in the rra kg rd. Small Prouns received si_ al trainin
2. On 10 January, the Hindenburg Kaserne at the intersection of Herrenkrug
Strasse and Jeriohower.Stra.sse, Magdeburg, quartered 400 to 500 troops.
Sentries observed wore red-bordered black epaulets with artillery in-
signia. Mostly infnatry training was conducted in the installation
between 1 and 10 January.
3. On 10 January, the Nachrichten Kaserne on the east side of Turmschan-
zen Strasse and on the south side of'Jerichower Strasse and west of
Herrenkrug Strasse was occupied by 400 to 500 troops. Sentries wore
red-bordered black epaulets with tank insignia. From 3 to 10 January,
soldiers engaged in aiming practice with 4 T-34/85 tanks, 4 x 75-m
AT guns and 2 x 76-xro field guns.
4. On 10 January, the Seeckt Kaserne on the east side of Turmschzen
Strasse and on the north side of Brueck Strasse was occupied by
400 to 500 troops. Sentries wore black-bordered black epaulets with
engineer insignia. Engineer equipment such as pontoons and bridge
building equipment was seen in the barracks yard from 3 to 10 January.
Daily routine at the installation predominantly consisted of mainte-
nance duty. Small units up to platoon strength also engaged in drill
practice.F
25 YEAR
RE-REVIEW
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5, On 8 January, the ''uckerbusch ;aserne on Zuokserbusch Strasse
quartered about 100 soldiers. ;Sentries wore black-bordered
crimson epaulets and red-bordered black epaulets.
6. On 10 January, the Flak Kaserne on Thomas iann Strasse was
occupied by 700 to 800 troops. Sentries wore red-bordered
black epaulets with artillery insignia. Training activity
from 2 to 10 January concentrated on gun drill with 37-mm
Aft guns and close-order drill. About 100 soldiers practiced
frith gas masks on 10 Januarys,. The garages were occupied almost
to c apacity __ riostly by trucks
On 6 January 1953, the icechrichten Kaserne was occupied by
900 to 1,000 troops who wore red bordered black epaulets', All
quarters were lighted at dusk. Between 3 and 6 January 1953,
about 200 troops were observed almost daily engaged in drill
in the barracks yard. On 3 January, about 40 soldiers layed
Bald cables toward Iferronkrug0 Six antennas with 4 braces were
- 12
on the barracks building in the southern section of the barracks
#I,, on 10 January, the Hindenburg Kaserno was occupied by about 800
troops who wore red-bordered black epaulets with artillery ine
signia and black-bordered crimson epaulets All quarters were
lighted at dusk. sight artillery pieces were observed in the
barracks installation from 30 December 1952 until 10 January
1953, Soldiers fell in near the guns for inspection on 3 January=
From 100 to 120 soldiers engaged in close-order drill on
several days during the period of observation.
On 6 December, the Seeckt Kaserne was occu ied b, about 350 sol-
diers who wore black-bordered black epaulets., lit dusk, all quarters
were lighted. On 28 November, about 15 motor vehicles with pontoons
were in the barracks yard,
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11. On 7 January, the Flak Kasorno was occupied to capacity. All Guar
12. On 3 January, the Encke Kaserne on Beim Strasse was occupied. There
was intensive vehicular traffic and traffic of personnel to and
from the installation.
13. On 3 January, the Hindenburg Kaserne was occupied to capacity.
Sentries wore red-bordered black epaulets. About 30 soldiers
engaged in firing practice on the Grosse Anger just east of the
barracks installation.,
14.
On 13 January, the iachriehten Kaserne was occupied to capacity.
Two JS-l or-JS-2 tanks and a tank hull were seen standing at
the. barracks gate, while 10 trucks occupied by 12 to 15 men each
entered the installation. About 180 soldiers practiced firing on
the Grosse Anger,
On 20 January 1953, the Seec-kt Kaserne was occupied to capacity.
Gantries wore blue-bordered black epaulets. There was much activity
at the installation.
16. On 20 January, the Anger Kaserne and the Herrenkrug Kaserne were
occupied to capacity.
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17. On 16 January, the Flak Kaserne was occupied to capacity. The
barracks buildings were lighted at nightfall. On 12 January 1953,
8 to 10 soldiers practiced aiming on 2 x 76-m AA guns east of
the installation, while 60 to 80 soldiers engaged in gun drill
with 4 x 37 am AA guns coupled to trucks in the barracks yard.
The same day, at about 9130 a.m., about 12 soldiers received
instruction on an artillery piece in the barracks yard. It was
a smooth-bore gun without muzzle brake and a length of about 1.50
meters, of 100-mm to 120--n caliber, with t, ~e barrel low to the
ground in horizontal position. The protective shield, 50 x 35 cm,
was installed far to the rear and the wheels, which had a diameter
of 20 cm, were fixed on a level with the arotective shield.
the gun was an AT artillery weapon of a similar make
as the bazooka, At about 1130 p.m. on 34 January, a column of 5
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motor vehicles including 4 trucks towing a 37-em AA gun
out of the barracks installation.
18o On 16 January, the Hindenburg Kaserne was occupied to capacity
by a unit whose personnel wore blue-bordered black e-aulets. All
quarters were li;hted at dusk.
19. On 16 January, the Seeckt Kaserne was occupied to capacity. All
quarters were lighted at nightfall. On 6 January, about 15 trucks
loaded with pontoons stood under a lean-to roof which was about
3,50 meters high, 6 to 7 meters deep, and took the entire width of
the barracks yard, On 15 January, 5 trucks with pontoon followed
by a truck with a hoisting gear
moved out of the barracks installation toward nge
20. On 16 January, the i.achriehten Kaserne was occupied to capacity.
Eight soldiers nulled two AT guns from the installation toward
Anger where, about 200 meters east of Jerichower Strasse, the guns
we.Ye emplaced on 30 17ecembsr. On 15 January, 11 soldiers e t ed
21. On 16 January, the Herrenkrug Kaserne was occupied to capacity.
All quarters were lighted at nightfall, On 11 January, two tanks
were seen east of the installation.
22, On 16 January, the',ncke Kaserne was occupied to capacity. All
cu ?arters were lighted at dusk.
23. On 16 January, the quarters of almost all buildings of the Flak
Kaserne were lighted at nightfall. Sentries observed more red-
bordered black eisulets with artillery ir.si iia. On 16 Pecenbor,
soldiers engaged in gun drill with four 85-mm guns in the barracks
yard. The artillery pieces, were covered with tarpaulins. On 14
January, about 80 soldiers drilled and airied with four 76-m .1A
guns in the barracks yard.
2,,rb on 16 January, the Seeckt Kaserne was occupied almost to capacity?
Sentries wore red-bordered black enaulets.Only a little training
activity was observed in the barracks yardb
25, On 16 January, the Lachrichten Kaserne quartered troops in four
of its buildings. Sentries wore red-bordered black epaulets.
On 14 January, about 120 soldiers marched from the barracks
installation into the terrain between Hindenburg Kaserne and the
1-1ar gareten Estate. They carried four 82-mn mortars. At the same
time, a T-34 tank left toward Biederitzerbusch. At about 11 a.m.
on 15 Tsnuary, about 90 soldiers with several antitank rifles rind
two 12O-rte;. mortars left the barracks install4.tion,
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report confirms a previous comment on the
occupation -of Magdeburg military post and, with regard to
the Nachrlchten Kaserne, supplements it. Thus, the P:achr chten-
rtaeerne is still carried as quartering the 63d Oda Mecz Regt
of the 19th Gds Mecz Div. The low estimates of the number of
troops in the installation are nroh bly due to difficulties
that resulted from intensified security measures. The gun
described in paragraph 17 may have been. a heavy model Ma~c3.m-
- 1910 machine gun which is difficult to recognize from a
large distance. It could have also been a new type AT weapon
sIrmilar to the bazooka.
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